Water and Pool Sock

ABSTRACT

A pool sock having an upper portion comprising a water-resistant material and a reinforced toe protection area material and a lower portion comprising a waterproof, non-slip sole. The water-resistant material may be a polyester Lycra material and the sole may be a synthetic polyvinyl chloride and cotton blend. The pool sock may further include an entry/exit portion that is an elastic ring that is coupled to the water-resistant material of the upper portion. The entry/exit portion may be a flexible ring that is enclosed within the water-resistant material of the upper portion. The pool sock may further include a pull-tab coupled to either the entry/exit portion or the water-resistant material of the upper portion near a heel area. The toe protection area material may be vinyl, neoprene rubber, or leather. A bottom surface of the sole may include treads or ribs.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The field of the invention is protective footwear, especially for young children who may have developmental issues or discomfort when walking barefoot. Oftentimes, it is recommended that children walk barefoot to improve their muscles and balance. However, many children are uncomfortable walking barefoot, especially on sand or hot sidewalks or any other type of ground or floor.

SUMMARY

An exemplary embodiment includes a pool sock having an upper portion comprising a water-resistant material and a reinforced toe protection area material and a lower portion comprising a waterproof, non-slip sole. The upper and lower portions may be coupled using stitching. The water-resistant material may be a polyester Lycra material and the sole may be a synthetic polyvinyl chloride and cotton blend. The pool sock may further include an entry/exit portion that is an elastic ring that is coupled to the water-resistant material of the upper portion. The entry/exit portion may be a flexible ring that is enclosed within the water-resistant material of the upper portion. The pool sock may further include a pull-tab coupled to either the entry/exit portion or the water-resistant material of the upper portion near a heel area. The toe protection area material may be vinyl, neoprene rubber, or leather. A bottom surface of the sole may include treads or ribs.

In some examples, the toe protection area material is coupled to the upper portion by one of coupling the toe protection area material over or under the water-resistant material of the upper portion. In other examples, the toe protection area material comprises a separate piece of material coupled to the upper portion and the lower portion such that the water-resistant material of the upper portion does not cover a toe area of the pool sock.

In further examples, the upper portion comprises multiple layers of material. Also, the water-resistant material of the upper portion may provide a sun protection factor (SPF). The pool sock may also include sole padding coupleable to an upper surface of the sole. The sole padding may be removable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a lower portion of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock according to various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 shows a back view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock according to various embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments describe a pool sock that provides individuals who are learning to walk with an alternative to walking barefoot when in a water related situation, e.g., in a pool, a lake, the ocean, etc. As will be described in greater detail below, the exemplary pool sock may provide a wearer with a way to protect their feet from hot sand on the beach or other hot surfaces near a pool and reduce the risk of slipping on wet surfaces or pain from stepping on objects in or out of the water (e.g., stones, toys, etc.). Thus, the pool sock is not limited to being worn in a pool situation but may be used in any water related situation.

The exemplary embodiment bridges a gap for children learning to walk or who are sensitive to external stimuli because it conforms to the foot similar to a sock, but provides much more protection. Thus, the invention allows a wearer to walk on any sort of surface with foot protection while also allowing the foot to move in a more natural way. This promotes muscle development while protecting from cuts and scrapes whether a child is walking or swimming. Generally, children are not as cautious as adults throughout the day; therefore the exemplary embodiment can help them stay protected from external stimuli (e.g., heat, rocks, toys) in a variety of situations while still encouraging natural muscle development.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock 1. The bottom view shows the lower portion 101 in more detail. In one exemplary embodiment, the lower portion 101 may be comprised of a synthetic polyvinyl chloride and cotton blend to create a waterproof, non-slip sole. The non-slip sole should prevent the wearer from slipping and falling while walking on any number of surfaces, such as on uneven surfaces and poolside. Thus, in addition to the material described above, any material that provides the non-slip characteristics may be used to construct the lower portion 101. In the example if FIG. 2, the lower portion 101 is shown as having a generally flat bottom. However, treads, ribs, or other protrusions or indentations may be added to the bottom of the lower portion 101 to aid in preventing slipping by the wearer. The lower portion 101 may be permanently attached to the upper portion 301 and/or the toe portion 201 by means of stitching as exemplified by 701. It should be noted that while the material described above as comprising the lower portion 101 may be generally described as fabric, it may also be possible to construct the lower portion 101 of a non-fabric material, e.g., a material that may be injection molding, stamped, pressed, etc. In such a case, the lower portion 101 may be attached or joined to the upper portion 301 and/or the toe portion 201 using other methods, such as gluing or fabric welding. In such an embodiment, the lower portion 101 should remain thin (e.g., having the general thickness of a fabric material) because the pool sock 1 is intended to protect a wearer's foot, but also allow the wearer to perform activities in a water environment, such as swimming, wading, treading, etc. Thus, if the lower portion 101 were thick, like a shoe, the wearer would be inhibited in their water activities.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock 1. The pool sock 1 may be comprised of an upper portion 301, an entry/exit portion 401, a toe portion 201 and a lower portion 101. The upper portion 301 may be constructed of a water-resistant polyester/Lycra material 301. As will be described in greater detail below, the upper portion 301 is designed to enclose the wearer's foot in the pool sock 1 in the same manner as a normal sock would envelop the foot. In one exemplary embodiment, the upper portion 301 is a single piece of material. However, it is possible that multiple pieces of material may be joined (e.g., stitched together) to form the upper portion 301. As described above, one advantage of the pool sock 1 is that it protects the wearer's foot. The upper portion 301 contributes to this safety effect by enveloping the top of the foot so that if the wearer were to fall and drag their foot, the top of the foot would not be cut or scraped. In addition, the material that comprises the upper portion 301 may have a sun protection factor (SPF) that protects the top of the wearer's foot from sunburn. The material may be such that it naturally possesses the SPF characteristic or other chemicals may be added to the material to boost its SPF to protect the wearer from sunburn. Since it is envisioned that the upper portion 301 will protect the wearer from sunburn, it is also envisioned that the material to make the upper portion will be continuous, e.g., no holes or cutouts in the material. However, in some exemplary embodiments, the upper portion 301 may have holes or cutouts. In these exemplary embodiments, parents or wearers may be warned to apply sunscreen under the pool sock 1 to protect the wearer's foot from burning in the area of the holes or cutouts. In addition, the material used to comprise the upper portion 301 may be a single layer of material or it may be multiple layers, e.g., two or more layers that are stitched together. Finally, while the pool sock 1 is designed to protect the wearer's foot, it may also be considered a fashion accessory. Thus, the material used to construct the upper portion 301 may have a design, e.g., that matches the wearer's bathing suit, super heroes, princesses, cartoon characters, etc., to entice the wearer to wear the pool sock 1.

In addition to the SPF, other finishings or coatings may also be added to the material that comprises the upper portion 301. In one example, a chlorine resistant additive may be included in the material. In a second example, a pollen release finishing may be added to the material that reduces allergic reactions caused by pollen dust. In a third example, an insect/mosquito repellent may be added to the material that provides protection against various insects. In a final example, an antibacterial finishing may be added to the material to stop odor-causing bacteria and to prevent infections. It should be noted that while these coatings and finishings are described as being added to the material of the upper portion 301, it is possible to add these coatings or finishings to any of the material used in the pool sock 1.

The entry/exit portion 401 may be constructed of an elastic ring and is used for entry and exit of the foot into/out of the pool sock 1. However, the entry/exit portion 401 may be constructed of any material that satisfies the herein described functionality for the entry/exit portion 401. For example, in addition to an elastic ring, the entry/exit portion 401 may be constructed from an elastomeric, rubber, or other type of ring that may be stretched and then returns to its original shape. The ring of the entry/exit portion 401 may be enclosed in a fabric material so that it is not uncomfortable for the wearer of the pool sock 1. The material may be a separate piece of material used to enclose the ring that is then joined to the material of the upper portion 301 or may be the material of the upper portion 301 that is folded around the ring and then stitched to enclose the ring. The entry/exit portion 401 may be stretched so that a wearer can insert their foot in a manner similar to a regular sock. The entry/exit portion 401 will rest around the wearer's ankle creating a firm, but ideally not overly tight, fit such that the pool sock 1 will remain in place while a wearer walks, runs, swims, etc. In the exemplary embodiments, the entry/exit portion 401 is shown as including a frill design 421. This is merely one example of an entry/exit portion 401. Other designs may be used for the entry/exit portion 401.

The toe portion 201 may be reinforced to provide protection to the wearer's toes when wearing the pool sock 1. The toe portion 201 may comprise a reinforcing material such as vinyl, neoprene rubber, leather or any other material that will protect the wearer's toes when the wearer accidentally kicks an object or stubs their toes. In one exemplary embodiment, the material of the toe portion 201 may be joined to the material of the upper portion 301 in the area 351 where the two portions 201 and 301 are shown to meet. In another exemplary embodiment, the material of the upper portion 301 may extend all the way through the area of the toe portion 201, e.g., such that the material of the upper portion 301 extends to the area 251 where the material of the upper portion 301 is joined with the lower portion 101. The reinforcing material of the toe portion 201 may then be placed over the material of the upper portion 301 to reinforce the toe area of the pool sock 1. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the reinforcing material of the toe portion 201 may be placed inside the pool sock 1 under the material of the upper portion 301 to reinforce the toe area of pool sock 1. Since the material of the toe portion 201 is to be joined to the material of the upper portion 301 in the area of the toes, a low profile stitch may be used so that the stitching is not uncomfortable for the wearer. In addition, it should be noted that the reinforcing material of the toe portion 201 may be attached to the pool sock 1 in a different manner than stitching. For example, if the reinforcing material of the toe portion 201 is an elastomeric or rubber material, this material may be sprayed over/under the material of the upper portion 301 or may be applied via a dipping process to the material of the upper portion 301 to create the reinforcing material of the toe portion 201.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock. The lower portion 101, where the bottom surface of the lower portion is a sole, may be comprised of a synthetic polyvinyl chloride and cotton blend to create a waterproof, non-slip sole. The non-slip sole should prevent the wearer from slipping and falling while walking on any number of surfaces, such as on uneven surfaces and poolside. The lower portion 101 is permanently attached to the upper portion 301 by means of stitching around the perimeter of the lower portion 101 as exemplified 701.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion 101 generally conforms to the shape of the wearer's foot and may be described as including a heel area 110, an arch area 120, and a toe area 130. When the wearer inserts their foot into the pool sock 1, these areas of the bottom of their foot will generally align with areas 110-130 of the top of the lower portion 101.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the lower portion 101 that includes the bottom surface 140 and the top surface 150. The bottom of the wearer's foot may rest on the top surface 150 of the lower portion 101 when the pool sock 1 is worn. In another exemplary embodiment, the pool sock 1 includes sole padding 801 that may be added and removed from the pool sock at the wearer's discretion. The padding 801 may be included for the comfort of the wearer and can be removed and/or replaced if it is destroyed or becomes worn through use. The padding 801 may also be temporarily removed when wet so that it can properly dry. The padding 801 may be made from any number of materials that may conform to the wearer's foot through use and may be replaced as the wearer's foot develops. Alternatively, the padding 801 may also be sewn into the pool sock 1 or attached by semi-permanent means, such as Velcro, buttons, or tabs. It should be noted that the padding 801 is not required to cover the entire top surface 150 of the lower portion 101. For example, the padding 801 may only be placed in the heel area 110, the in-step area 120, or the toe area 130, depending on the wearer's preference.

The various portions 101-401 of the pool sock 1 may be permanently coupled to form a single integral pool sock 1. The coupling may be performed by stitching the portions together but other methods of coupling may also be used, such as zippers, buttons, fabric welding, etc.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock 1. The entry/exit portion 401 is typically round or oval in shape to accommodate entry and exit of a human foot and to grip the ankle of the wearer when in use such that the pool sock 1 will not come off until the wearer or another wishes to remove the pool sock 1. The entry/exit portion 401 may be comprised of any material that can expand to allow entry and exit of the human foot such that a user can easily put the pool sock on and easily remove the pool sock, but such that it will remain tightly secured during use. Additionally, the entry/exit portion 401 should prevent unwanted materials, such as rocks, from entering the pool sock 1 while the wearer has the pool sock 1 on their foot.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock. The toe portion 201 that is coupled to the upper portion 301 by means of stitching 601 may be reinforced to protect the toes of the wearer, usually from stones or rocks or any other items that may cause injury to the wearer.

FIG. 6 shows a back view of an exemplary embodiment of a pool sock 1. A pull-tab 501 may be attached to the upper portion 301 by means of stitching to assist a wearer in putting the pool sock onto their foot.

The pool sock 1 may be used by a young child who has delayed foot muscle development. For example, it is common in these situations that a doctor may suggest to the child's parents that the child walk barefoot on a variety of surfaces to promote proper muscle development. However, the child may be sensitive to hot or uneven surfaces. The pool sock 1 remedies this problem because it is light and unobtrusive so that it mimics barefoot walking, but also protects the child's feet from hot and uneven surfaces.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present disclosure, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalent 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pool sock, comprising: an upper portion comprising a water-resistant material and a reinforced toe protection area material; and a lower portion comprising a waterproof, non-slip sole.
 2. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the water-resistant material comprises a polyester Lycra material.
 3. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a synthetic polyvinyl chloride and cotton blend.
 4. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion further comprises an entry/exit portion.
 5. The pool sock according to claim 4, wherein the entry/exit portion is an elastic ring that is coupled to the water-resistant material of the upper portion.
 6. The pool sock according to claim 4, further comprising a pull-tab coupled to either the entry/exit portion or the water-resistant material of the upper portion near a heel area.
 7. The pool sock according to claim 4, wherein the entry/exit portion is a flexible ring that is enclosed within the water-resistant material of the upper portion.
 8. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the toe protection area material comprises one of vinyl, neoprene rubber, or leather.
 9. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the toe protection area material is coupled to the upper portion by one of coupling the toe protection area material over or under the water-resistant material of the upper portion.
 10. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the toe protection area material comprises a separate piece of material coupled to the upper portion and the lower portion such that the water-resistant material of the upper portion does not cover a toe area of the pool sock.
 11. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion comprises multiple layers of material.
 12. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the water-resistant material of the upper portion provides a sun protection factor (SPF).
 13. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower portions are coupled using stitching.
 14. The pool sock according to claim 1, further comprising: sole padding coupleable to an upper surface of the sole.
 15. The pool sock according to claim 14, wherein the sole padding is removable.
 16. The pool sock according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the sole comprises one of treads or ribs. 